I spent a lot of time working with and trying to stabilize a ultrasonic solution.

First off these sensors are not waterproof ( the waterproof version is around $85.00 US Waterproof version). The non-waterproof versions run around $5.00 US. So this would seem the best way to go and work to make it work by using some waterproofing strategies. Hard to do when working in an aquaponic environment.

Next they are very hard to mount in a way that they can be useful to determining water level in a tank. There are a lot of instructables talking about this aspect for these sensors and even more youtube articles, but most if not all are just demos and breadboard applications. No real useful solutions that really can be implemented in a scalable way.

Final issue is that I have yet to be able to stabilize these sensors and have wasted a lot of time trying to get them to be reliable in a usable way.

SOLUTION – find a better method or be able to purchase one that actually gets the job done in a simple and affordable and scalable way.

Since the problem with using a 5″ HDMI display was worked with the Raspberry Pi. A new problem developed that needed to be addressed. Running Arduino IDE on Raspberry Pi using the 5″ HDMI display at 800 X 480 resolution. The problem is that the Arduino IDE bleeds off the edges of the display (see picture below). The issue is that the Arduino IDE cannot be moved around to get access to the menu options. So there is no way to check libraries or setting to insure sketches are being up-loaded correctly. No new sketches can be opened either. Major pain.

After some research and a little time solving the Raspberry Pi – Jessie with Pixel display issue I found a solution that resolves this issue as well.

I wrote an Instructable to document what is needed, so check it out if this is a issue for you.

This display was purchased to allow a graphical interface element to the automation effort of aquaponic systems. So I was very happy to find this display and it could easily be integrated into the overall design with a very small footprint.

ADAFRUIT is quite clear that that this 5″ HDMI display will not work without changes to the “config.txt” file to set-up for the different display size. In this case 800 X 480 resolution. The documentation to make these changes is very good and works as documented.

THAT IS UNTIL A NEW RELEASE OF RASPBERRY PI OS —

As always technology never stands still. Advances are made almost daily when it comes to Raspberry Pi and the OS is no exception. In late 2016 a new upgrade was rolled out called “JESSIE” with Pixel. There was a lot of buzz about this new upgrade and it does look and perform much better over all. Once you upgrade or update there is no going back.

The problem with the “JESSIE” upgrade is that now the solution provide by ADAFRUIT for the 5″ HDMI display no longer worked very well and was unusable as a display on the Balcony Gardens.

A fix was needed, but since “JESSIE” was so new no one was really aware of this resolution issue and the resolution issue was not even being talked about on ADAFRUIT site or in the Raspberry Pi forums.

After a lot of searching and months later a solution was found.

Long story so I will not go into details of the issue, but have documented it all in an Instructable that can be found here:

It is my understanding that the Projects pages link has not been activated as yet. This is where details of the build can be found.

Arduino Sketches are found there as well.

But understand it is only starting code that will be added to and developed as time goes on. Right now the UNO sketches only handles a timer functionality. As people build the Gardens and report back their code updates I will be posting them here for all of us to learn from.

There is also a IoT Sketch using the code generated by Temboo that sends a SMS message system that again is starting code.

I have to point out that I DO NOT support the sketches from a technical perspective they are purely for reference and a starting point for people to use and develop on there own. As I build out the interface on the project I will be posting code and sketches that work and would be of interest to the readers of this BLOG.

Also I have released some Instructables that support the article from a build perspective. More are to come as they are developed or change made in the design of the Balcony Garden.